The Glass Palace

King Thebaw receives Colonel Sladen, the British spokesman, in the palace. As a youngster, Thebaw had never expected to become king. He took the throne as a result of his mother-in-law’s political machinations. He married three of her daughters simultaneously before falling in love with Supayalat. She loved him and consolidated his rule, having seventy-nine rival princes killed.

As the king waits for Sladen, he evaluates his memory of the man. Sladen had served as British emissary in Mandalay for many years. The king requests time to leave the palace but Sladen can only offer him an hour. The royal family is being sent into exile in British India, taking a selection of attendants with them. There are no volunteers at first. Finally, Dolly, meeting the queen’s eye, agrees to go for the sake of the princesses.

The king arranges for the transportation of his treasures. With his entourage, he passes through a ceremonial guard of honor and exits the palace. They prepare to leave on ox carts, flanked by soldiers anticipating riots. From the streets, Rajkumar spots Dolly as night begins to fall. As the crowds gather to watch the royal family depart, Rajkumar swaps his palace loot for candies and chases down the procession.